The Ilocos Times

Senator Imee Marcos said the country should prepare for a worst-case scenario wherein herd immunity could no longer be attained. “Herd immunity remains theoretical and has become a moving target. Last year it was 70% of the population, today it’s 90%, but tomorrow it may well be out of range,” Marcos said. “With booster shots already in high demand, even as first doses have yet to reach populations in less developed countries, will vaccine manufacturers be able to provide?” Marcos asked. Besides precarious global vaccine supply, Marcos added that breakthrough infections among the vaccinated, the emergence of more variants, the uncertain length of vaccine efficacy, and the possible reduction of healthcare capacities due to hospital shutdowns and worker protests are also among the factors that make attaining herd immunity seem unlikely. “I’d rather be the bearer of bad news than of false hope. The fact is, pandemic control worldwide has become a Sisyphean struggle,” Marcos added

  ASF in Vintar. Vintar Vice Mayor Victor Amado Rasimo confirms that Brgy. Dipilat of his town is ASF-affected during an interview with the local media. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Vintar , Ilocos Norte—The African swine fever (ASF) has now affected this town. Vintar Vice Mayor Victor Amado Rasimo personally confirmed this in an interview with the local media. Rasimo reported that they have culled 581 ASF-infected hogs at Brgy. Dipilat here. He said he and municipal agriculturist Dr. Myrna Simon have already met with the provincial ASF task force twice, which confirmed the ASF cases in the said barangay. “ Isu a pangngaasi tayo appo lalo dagiti adda taraken na a baboy ti intero a Vintar ta ipalubos tayo kuma a maalaan iti blood samples dagiti baboy tayo tapnu saan kuman nga agwaras ken al-alisto met laeng a mai- declare ti ili tayo nga ASF-free no maduktalan a negative dagiti taraken tayo a baboy ,” Rasimo implored his townmates. With

Marcos Mayor Antonio Mariano in an interview with the members of the media. ( Photo by Dulce Valenzuela) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Marcos , Ilocos Norte—" Awan kinagpayso na dayta nga agwarwaras ta iti kinapudno na ket kayat paylaeng dagiti appo nga kakailiak iti Marcos nga itul-tuloy ko iti pinagserbik kadakuada babaen ngata dagiti nagkaadu a makitkita da a pinag progreso ti ili mi ”. This was Marcos Mayor Antonio Mariano clarification on rumors that he will no longer run for re-election in next year’s elections as he will be going back to the United States for his family. The Ilocos Times learned that there are already some politicians eyeing the said mayoralty post, including his opponents in 2019 election and one of his present councilor. The mayor likewise said that his relationship with Marcos Vice Mayor Hilario Lorenzo is “okay in terms of work”. “ Dayta iti the big question mark no kayat nak to pay a kadwa wennu saanen ngem possible met a kadwa

ACTING  Solsona Vice Mayor Jonathan De Lara presides the Aug. 10, 2021 regular session of the Sangguniang Bayan as he was officially designated as the acting vice mayor of Solsona by DILG Sec. Eduardo Año. ( Doms Dela Cruz ) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Solsona , Ilocos Norte—The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) central office thru Secretary Eduardo M. Año has formally ordered Sangguniang Bayan member Jonathan De Lara to assume as acting vice mayor of Solsona. De Lara’s designation, dated August 5, 2021 as acting vice mayor of Solsona, was to fill up the temporary vacancy created in the said office due to the assumption as acting mayor of Solsona Vice Mayor Bob Sacro. Sacro assumed as acting mayor due to a 60-day preventive suspension order issued to Solsona Mayor Joseph De Lara by Ilocos Norte Governor Mathew Joseph M. Manotoc dated July 16, 2021 for an administrative case. DILG regional director Julie J. Daquioag further informed DILG OIC

  By Noralyn Onto Dudt "To educate the Filipinos and to uplift and Christianize them,” was what Pres. William McKinley announced in an interview by James Rusling of "The Christian Advocate" for annexing the Philippines in 1898. Quite ironic indeed as the people of the Philippines had been Christian for about three centuries before McKinley and his supporters got the idea. Free access to modern public education was made possible through the Spanish enactment of the Spanish Education Decree of Dec 20, 1863 by Queen Isabella II. And although public education—the kind that we are familiar with—was not yet in place, the Jesuits and the Dominican Orders had built parochial schools all over the archipelago. The University of Santo Tomas in Manila, a pontifical university was founded in 1611, about a decade before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. For all its bad and harsh beginnings, American tutelage had its good points.   The "sentimental impe

Currently circulating online are photos comparing the food packages being distributed by Ilocos Norte's two cities. Laoag provides "ayuda" to some 70% of families in the city while Batac caters to all families residing within its boundaries, with no exception, registered voters or not. The food package being distributed by Laoag, photos show, also pales in comparison to that of Batac in terms of quantity and, many say, even in quality. Moreover, one of the two cities is faster by a mile in distributing goods, and it is not Laoag. Laoag Mayor Michael Keon, since last year, has been uncomfortable—bordering on allergic—being compared to his Batac counterpart. The other city has a smaller population, he says, and it has fewer barangays, which is why it can give more and distribute faster. Going by this logic, all other municipalities that have been outdoing Laoag owe their success and good work mainly to their smaller populace. Going by the same logic, LGUs with larger p

By Noralyn Onto Dudt Watch what you eat. You eat the wrong stuff and your arteries will be clogged, your pain will be worse, and your brain will be fogged.   Blame inflammation which comes from a chemical reaction initiated by your immune system. Inflammation is the immune system's response to injury and infection. It is the body's way of signaling the immune system to heal and repair damaged tissues as well as to defend itself against foreign invaders. The attacker could be a foreign body, such as a thorn, an irritant, or a pathogen. Pathogens include bacteria, viruses, and other organisms which cause infections. When you cut your finger, white blood cells produce chemicals to combat the invader and to protect the infected area.   These chemicals are then released into the bloodstream, increasing blood flow to the area, causing inflammation.   In cases like these, inflammation is temporary and promotes healing. However, there are times when the immune system does not sw